White House offers GOP advice

3/18/13 1:51 PM EDT

As the Republican Party unveiled its plans Monday to retool itself after losing the election last year to President Obama, White House press secretary Jay Carney offered a little advice.

"I think its important to note that the best way to increase support with the public for your party is to embrace policies the public supports," he said during a press briefing. "And embracing policies the public does not support, or aggressively rejects, makes it more difficult to earn public support."

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said Monday that a review of last year's election found that the party's message was "weak," its ground game was "insufficient" and its technical savvy lagged behind Democrats. Priebus also noted the party's need to be more inclusive and embrace immigration reform.

Carney on Monday suggested that current Republican office holders on Capitol Hill need to take heed and adjust other positions, particularly on deficit and debt.

"When it comes, again, to matters like how we grow our economy, and as we grow our economy, how we deal with our deficit and debt challeneges, as I've noted frequently, the public overwhelmingly supports a balanced approach to that challenge," he said.

"The public does not support -- did not support last year, did not support the year before -- an effort to deal with our deficit challenges by asking seniors to bear the burden through voucherized Medicare, asking families who have to deal with disabled children or parents in nursing homes to bear the burden, [so] that the wealthiest can enjoy a massive tax …cut."

Carney said the president looks differently today at the travails of the GOP.

"He believes that a strong two-party system is important in our democracy. It is also true, as he has noted, and the Constitution requires, he has not, he will not be running again for office," he said. "So, you know, his view of this is a little different probably than it was a year ago or more."